Our European Form Is Disastrous
Ronny was sent into the first European campaign woefully under-prepared and so it’s possible, perhaps, to give him a pass.
But that’s only good up to a point.
Performances in that first Champions League campaign were plainly diabolical, and you can only make excuses so far. Furthermore, taken in hindsight, with this season’s European results on top of them, you see a picture of a manager hopelessly and woefully out of his depth on that stage, and incapable of learning from his mistakes.
Legia Warsaw destroyed us; there’s no other way to put it.
The most fortuitous turn of events in our recent history gave us a second chance at going to the Groups.
We blew that in spectacular fashion with a pitiful surrender at home against Maribor.
Revisionists will say that after his shaky start our Europa League campaign in that first season was a success. It was, if you’re judging against the cataclysm of this year. In truth, it was an exercise in total mediocrity. We won two, drew two and lost two in a group that wasn’t exactly comprised of genuine class. Inter Milan was the glint of hope; we were excellent over the two legs, and that covered a multitude of sins in the games before it.
This season was a scorching lesson in how shockingly bad we’ve become.
The Champions League campaign was over almost before it began, with a disgraceful night in Malmo sending us out.
Those who said we’ve “found our level” in the Europa League were given the rudest awakening of all, as we swiftly proved we were nowhere near even that standard.
No wins in six games. A miserable, disgusting, three points.
Bottom of the group and a goal difference of minus four.
Catastrophic, but all too predictable.
There’s a reason why things were so bad. Tactics.
